FIRST: The original thread is out of the first page on music chat. SECOND: The girls just had a major image change. THUS I feel a new thread is in order.

r->l: Tomomi(b/vo), Haruna (g/vo), Rina (dr), Mami (lg/vo)

Album Discography:YAH YAH YAH SCANDAL - IndiesBEST SCANDAL - First Album, highly recommendedTEMPTATION BOX - Second AlbumR GIRLS ROCK - Cover AlbumBABY ACTION - Third AlbumSCANDAL SHOW - Technically first best album, since their previous best was a comp of indies/major singles and album tracks while this one is all singles. QUEENS ARE TRUMPS - Fourth AlbumENCORE SHOW - B-side collectionMajor Image change? Yes, awhile back they held a press conference and essentially said they are not going to wear their signature sailor fuku-esque outfits anymore, but I can't remember the source and now I'm wondering if it was a dream.

So now Tomo's a redhead, Mami and Haruna are blondes, and Rina stays perfect Rina. I love the colors on them because they actually look good. See that H!P? That's how you go blonde! I'm liking the image change, though I hope it wasn't (but it probably was) influenced by AKB48 essentially stealing all current and future seifuku inspired designs. It doesn't matter those because those kimono rock my socks!

As for Harukaze, it's an alright song. It's more like Kimi/Story and Beauteen, which aren't my favorite singles. I would've preferred something more akin to LOVE SURVIVE, which was a nice blend of that style and their usual rock, but alas. Here's hoping they can make Orange Range listenable I mean it'll be a good cover.

The PV was nice. I liked how the story shots and band shots were separate. As for their set, I could swear I've seen that place in another rock band PV (maybe JDA because the image feels old in my head). But it really does nothing to improve the song and instead I'm enjoying Mami whip her hair back and forth.

Is it just me or does Mami now look like Yossie, Haruna like Goto and Rina like Yasuda's younger sister. Tomo still looks like Tomo and hopefully she's still as mad as a trumpet which is why we love her.

I like the new look and the single's not bad, not their best but not their worst. I think it might be a grower.

I don't know if you guys remember, but back when they were in the beginnings of their career, there was a vote to cover this song. Secret Base won (those boring fans) but now we finally got a performance AND it's with the Queen Nanase herself!

Oh, and Al, they can keep the schoolgirl outfits in the closet if it means we get moar Mami in hotpants. That blonde hair is wicked on her I love it!

It doesn't work as well, simply because their voices are so different. Haruna's voice is so crisp and clear and his is more of a lovely growl and it doesn't mesh well. Tomo fared better in this song, I think, simply because she puts a little more sass into her voice.

I was not impressed by any of the lead singles, so I didn't care to follow them closely.

Now I have a dilemma. Do I continue my album collection of photobooks, or do I forego the band?

NO, NO, NO, they need our love.

I have got both copies of the album winging their way to me even though I really didn't think much of the last two singles and Pin Heel Surfer seems to have crashed and burnt as regards sales (looks like it will only shift about 35% of the recent sales). You have to give any album with tracks entitled Rock 'n' Roll, Bitter Chocolate and Kill the Virgin a chance.

Yes I am now the proud owner of a set of Scandal playing cards with the Scandal logo on the back and each of the queen cards has a picture of one of the girls. It may be the highlight of my life so far sniff, sniff, sob.

So here's their PV for Playboy promoting their B-side collection, ENCORE SHOW.

I like it when they do fun videos like this. And on another note, I love Tomo's outfit and would rock it any chance I could if I owned it. <3

Edit -

If anything the opening track to their album was awesome, so here's a live of it. I laughed when Tomo missed her line and Mami gave her the "GUUURRRLLL" look. And here's the complete thing (Rock'n Roll, Shunkan Sentimental, Queens are Trumps)

Edit 2 -

Okay, so I've been neglecting this thread.There was a live action movie out recently called Kyou, Koi ga Hajimemasu (an adaptation of a melodramatic shoujo manga) and their song Happy Collector was used for it (featured on the compilation album for the movie). Here's a live of it from the nico nico special for the film.

So here's their PV for Playboy promoting their B-side collection, ENCORE SHOW.

I like it when they do fun videos like this. And on another note, I love Tomo's outfit and would rock it any chance I could if I owned it. <3

Edit -

If anything the opening track to their album was awesome, so here's a live of it. I laughed when Tomo missed her line and Mami gave her the "GUUURRRLLL" look. And here's the complete thing (Rock'n Roll, Shunkan Sentimental, Queens are Trumps)

Edit 2 -

Okay, so I've been neglecting this thread.There was a live action movie out recently called Kyou, Koi ga Hajimemasu (an adaptation of a melodramatic shoujo manga) and their song Happy Collector was used for it (featured on the compilation album for the movie). Here's a live of it from the nico nico special for the film.

OOh, ooh, thanks for those .

They are really rocking on the live stuff, both Mami and Rina are getting a lot more confident in their playing, Haruna is doing a very sexy strut , and Tomo is, as ever, being Tomo .

I can't find it on youtube, but on jpopsuki there's an hour long subbed documentary about the girls. It's interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes and my heart now melts for Haruna.

It actually helped answer something I was wondering after listening to QAT over and over - "Tomo is singing more than she used to now, they're more 50/50 duets now and a couple were mostly Tomo..." And it turns out that Haruna injured her voice and she lost it for awhile before the Budokan tour. So the divided lines are probably to make it easier on her voice for their crazy tour and studio schedule. Bawwwwwww ; ;

Anyway, the girls are amazing and watching this made me love them even more.

I can't find it on youtube, but on jpopsuki there's an hour long subbed documentary about the girls. It's interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes and my heart now melts for Haruna.

It actually helped answer something I was wondering after listening to QAT over and over - "Tomo is singing more than she used to now, they're more 50/50 duets now and a couple were mostly Tomo..." And it turns out that Haruna injured her voice and she lost it for awhile before the Budokan tour. So the divided lines are probably to make it easier on her voice for their crazy tour and studio schedule. Bawwwwwww ; ;

Anyway, the girls are amazing and watching this made me love them even more.

I haven't got a jpopsuki account so I can't see it . I read about Haruna, let's hope she recovers fully.

In all the behind the scenes stuff they always seem to get on really well with each other although with somebody as mad as Tomo in the band I don't see how you can do anything except spend the whole time having fun .

I love their outfits, and I like the song. It's a good balance of their poppier and rock stuff that doesn't end up boring me. (But I eventually grew to love all those songs too hahaha)

edit - can you not use torrents or do you need a jpopsuki invite?

Torrents are a complete mystery, I did try them a while back but just about everything I tried to download took about 6 days and I gave up . I don't know anything about jpopsuki but I'm willing to learn .

I am still upset it is not a photobook edition, but the T-shirt is cool looking. Only complaint is that it's really really thin, so I'm afraid to wear it and wash it and ruin it after a couple of times. :( I'll post album impressions later.